Joyce Marin: A single email spurred a neighborhood's holiday donation

December 22, 2012

Recent times have been difficult for many people in the Lehigh Valley. Many nonprofits delivering neighborhood-based services to our neediest citizens are struggling financially. A month ago I received an email from someone I know who heads up a neighborhood after-school program for youth. She was looking for modest holiday gifts — pajama sets and oranges for the stockings — for the children her organization serves.

The simplicity of the request touched my heart, and I forwarded the message to many people I know, inviting them to consider making a donation to this or another youth-serving organization. I know so many good people who are working hard to help children in the after-school hours and, without exception, the need is great. Today, given the condition of the economy, resources have never been tighter. If they had more, they could do more.

One of the people who received my email was a neighbor with whom I am getting better acquainted. After receiving my email she reached out to the executive director of the organization who wrote the original message. Then she contacted some of our other neighbors on the street to rally support. She collected the donations (many people preferred to remain anonymous), purchased 20 pajama sets and delivered them and the oranges to the after-school program's center in Allentown. Mission accomplished. Happy holidays.

Well, not exactly mission accomplished. The connection, now made, is taking root and going deeper than I ever expected it would. I just learned that one of my other neighbors, as a result of participating in this activity, is talking about sending her teenagers to volunteer at the center, providing elementary school students with needed homework help after school. Warmed by the generosity of others' good intentions, I realized that this holiday spirit thing is on fire. As the result of my forwarding that one email, our street has, in essence, adopted a neighborhood center in another part of the Lehigh Valley. This proves what I believed at a deep level all along — that no matter where we live, we are all neighbors.

There has been another benefit from this activity. People on our street have been brought closer together, and we have experienced a heightened sense of community. Yes, any of us could have contributed financially or donated time individually. However, there is something really rewarding and empowering about pooling resources with the people who physically surround you and then making a contribution like this in solidarity, together.

Then, I realized that this doesn't have to stop with my street. This model could be replicated across the Lehigh Valley with great benefit to both the givers, the receiving organizations and, especially, the region's youth. The research supporting after-school programs is compelling. As a result of what I've read, I believe strongly that nothing else we do will reduce crime, improve student success and graduation rates and guarantee the long-term health of our economy as keeping high quality, after-school programs going. Investing in our region's youth is literally investing in our future.

Many people give generously during the holidays. This year, some people may feel that they cannot afford to give much. Rather than cut back, what would happen if more people followed my neighbor's humble lead and quietly organized a handful of their friends, neighbors and family members to make coordinated donations and volunteer their time to benefit youth-serving organizations? We would have a quiet revolution of support for our region's most junior and most vulnerable members. And we would demonstrate and feel what has been true all along here in the Lehigh Valley — that we really do care about each other.

So, today, amid the hustle of the holidays, I invite you to consider talking to the people on your block about making a joint donation to your favorite youth-serving organization. Even a little bit, if pooled together, can make a big difference.

Joyce Marin, a community and economic development professional from Macungie, is an advocate for after-school programming and our region's youth.